Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the Parramatta Light Rail route?

A. Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 will connect Westmead to Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD and Camellia with a two-way track spanning 12 kilometres. It will connect Parramatta’s CBD to the key areas being transformed by the NSW Government and private investment, including the Westmead Precinct, the Parramatta North Growth Centre, the Camellia Town Centre, the Telopea Precinct, and Western Sydney University campuses at Westmead, Rydalmere and Parramatta CBD.

Q. What else is along the route?

A. The light rail route encompasses major attractions including the vibrant Parramatta Square, the cafés and restaurants on Church Street, the new Bankwest Stadium, the new Powerhouse Museum and cultural precinct on the Parramatta River, new schools including the redeveloped Arthur Phillip High School, and the Rosehill Gardens Racecourse.

Q. When will Parramatta Light Rail construction begin and when will it open?

A. Early works on Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 have begun. Major construction will begin in 2019 and the light rail is expected to begin operations in 2023.

Q. What are the key features of the project?

A. Key features of Stage 1 of the Parramatta Light Rail include 16 highly accessible stops, regular services from early morning to late at night including services every 7.5 minutes during peak periods, driver-operated, integrated Opal ticketing, and modern and comfortable air-conditioned vehicles with a capacity of at least 250 passengers in each vehicle.

Q. How much will Parramatta Light Rail cost?

A. Stage 1 of the Parramatta Light Rail will cost $2.4 billion, which includes two major contracts to build and operate light rail, remediation works of the future light rail depot site, road and traffic works and upgrades, new bridges, walking and bike riding paths, urban design, changes to the bus network and project costs from 2015-2023.

Q. Will the project impact parking or trees?

A. Parramatta Light Rail will bring visitors into the region and make it easier for workers and residents to move around new and existing communities. There are likely to be impacts on street parking and some trees across the network, including in and around Parramatta CBD. Transport for NSW will continue to work on ways to minimise any loss of parking and trees during the design phase of the project. For more information, refer to the Parking fact sheet or Tree impacts fact sheet.

Q. How will construction of the Parramatta Light Rail aﬀect my business?

A. Transport for NSW is committed to ensuring traffic and transport ﬂows smoothly during and after construction of Stage 1 of the Parramatta Light Rail project. Dedicated Place Managers are engaging directly with businesses along the route to provide information and assistance, and to answer questions about the impacts of construction and access. Transport for NSW and the project’s delivery partner will develop local traffic management and access plans for deliveries in consultation with impacted business owners and managers.

Q. What will the light rail stops look like?

A. Transport for NSW has and will continue to work with City of Parramatta and the community to ensure that the design of light rail reflects the characteristics of each precinct. The project will continue these discussions, as well as seeking community feedback, throughout the design process.

Q. Will the project have an impact on the heritage of the Parramatta region?

A. Parramatta Light Rail has been designed to minimise impacts on the important heritage landmarks and items across the Parramatta region. It will use existing road and rail corridors to limit these impacts. However, there will be some impacts on both Aboriginal archaeological sites and non-Aboriginal heritage items. Salvage excavations will be undertaken at some of the Aboriginal archaeological sites. Where direct impacts on non‑Aboriginal heritage items cannot be avoided, the project will seek opportunities to retain, reuse or conserve items. Consultation will continue to be carried out with the Office of Environment and Heritage (Heritage Division) during design development as required.

Q. Will any private properties need to be acquired for light rail?

A. With a project of this scale, it is inevitable that some acquisitions of property are needed. Light rail is designed to fit within existing road corridors, and whole or partial acquisition of property will only occur where this is not possible. Transport for NSW has allocated case managers to work directly with owners and tenants of properties that are or may be aﬀected.

Q. Will property owners be compensated for property that needs to be acquired?

A. Transport for NSW is committed to treating anyone aﬀected by acquisitions fairly and respectfully in line with the improved property acquisition process announced by the NSW Government in October 2016. Those members of the community being impacted directly by the route have been contacted by members of the Parramatta Light Rail project team based in Parramatta, and we will continue to work closely with them as planning progresses. More information about the improved property acquisition process is available at finance.nsw.gov.au.

Q. Will I be able to travel to the Sydney CBD from Carlingford?

A. The single track of the Carlingford heavy rail line is being replaced with dual track light rail that will provide more frequent services and better connections to town centres, including the Parramatta CBD, from where you can connect to trains at the Parramatta interchange.

Q. How long will the Carlingford line be shut down once construction of light rail begins?

A. Train services between Camellia and Clyde will need to cease operation to enable construction and operation of Parramatta Light Rail. The timing of construction will be confirmed once a project delivery partner is appointed. During construction, more frequent bus services will operate from Carlingford via the existing stations at Telopea, Dundas, Rydalmere, Camellia and Parramatta. Customers will be provided with plenty of notice before the train services cease, as well as the exact route of buses, to minimise disruption to the community.

Q. What is the progress of Stage 2 of the Parramatta Light Rail?

A. The Parramatta Light Rail is being delivered in stages to ensure the infrastructure needed to support the current growth of Greater Parramatta is in place and that light rail is operating as soon as possible to support the thousands of new houses and jobs being created. Planning work for Stage 2 of the project – connecting Stage 1 to Ermington, Melrose Park, Wentworth Point and Sydney Olympic Park – is underway. This planning is being done with other government agencies and transport projects, including the newly announced Sydney Metro West, which has stops at Sydney Olympic Park, Westmead Precinct and Parramatta.

Q. Are there plans to extend the Parramatta Light Rail to Epping?

A. An extension to Epping continues to be investigated by Transport for NSW. Customers between Epping and Macquarie Park already enjoy good heavy rail services and will soon benefit from the Sydney Metro Northwest line under construction.